Snap-action mechanism



Apri24,1945. f Y .R H JORDAN 2,374,435

SNAP-ACTION MEcHANlsM `Filed Sept'. 16, 1943 i [NIITOR. A www Figure 1:

dat spring used in my switch; and

invention vcomprises "inlligurea inten-medien under the channelledlrigidresilient strip vIl and the intermediate` support il vand the i,

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 Richard H. Jordan,

corporation o! Ohio Mansfield, Ohio, assigner to Dominion ElectricalManuiacturin g, Inc., a

Application September 16, 1943, Serial'No. 502,-607I 5 claims. y(ci.zoosvi My linvention relates in general to a quickaction movement andmore particularly to a snap switch. An object of my invention is theprovision of a snap switch which may be constructed or si1`nple partsand which is reliable in operation.

Another object or my invention is the provision of a channelled datspring which is employed to give a quick-action movement.

Another object of my invention is to use the channelled flat spring as abridging member to close an electrical circuit between two spacedcontacts.

Another object of my invention is the provil sion of a snap-actionarrangement for interrubting and making electrical circuits byflattening a'portion of a pre-formed channelled resilient strip which isanchored at its two ends and which is supported by an intermediateiulcrum or support, Athe ilattening reducing the rigidity of thechannelled member between the fulcrum and vone of the ends of thestrips. and thereby producing a quick-acting movement. ,y

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing. in which:

Figure 1 isa side elevational view of a switch embodying the featuresofmy invention .Figure 2 is an end view ci' the device shown in Figure ais s view similar to Fi ie 1, with the switch shown in the oppositeposit on:

Figure 4 is a 'perspective view of a channelled Figure 5 is a sideelevational view showing a modiiication of the method of operating myswitch. Y

With reference tothe views of the drawing, my

generally a channelled rigid ilat resilient strip that the endwise con-land Il which are bridged by the channelled rigidresilient strip i whenthe control push button I6 is depressed. When the control push button Ilis depressed, the contacts Il and I are open as shown in Figure 3. i i

The operation of either one ofthe control push buttons I8 and I1 whichwhen it engages the channelled rigid resilient strip III, causes thechannelled rigid resilient strip i0 to become almost at or straightacross which reduces the rigidity of same 4to give a quick-actionmovement. The reduction of rigidity of the, channelled resilient stripin the places where the control, push buttons vIl and l1 are locatedpermits the spring Ito straighten out where it formerly .was reducedinrigidity and deformed. The

straightening out action is accompanied by a snap movement so thatwheneither one of the control push buttons il and l1 are operatedv thesnap action is instantaneous.

In Figure 5 I show a different method of weakeningthe channelledresilient strip in that I employ a switch lever 2| which is pivoted at apivot point 22 and which has two spaced rocking arm engaging portions 2land 24 for reducing the frigidity of the lchannelled rigiddlat springi0.

' strip as bridging the contacts i III having its opposite ends mountedin notches i2 and i3' provided m the `upright portion of. the switchframe Il which straint upon the channelled resilient strip causes aretwospaced electrical contacts il ,l ter portion.'and actuating `meansdisposedl to Y u contact the said intermediate portions of the Theoperation oi the switch y same as that described with reference to theforegoing views.

While I have shown the channelled resilientil and II directly. itis tobe understood that the switching arrangement may comprise otherdesignswhere the making and breaking of the controlled by thequick-action movement of the rigid resilient strip Il.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has' beenmade only by way oi' example and thatnumerous changes in the detailsl ofconstruction and the combina-A tion and arrangement of parts may beresorted to'without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as' my invention: l

1. A quick-acting switch comprising the com'- bination of a pair oispaced switch contacts, a relatively thin rigid channelled member forbridging the contacts having two end portions.

a center portion and 'intermediate portions be- I tween the respectiveend portions andthecenhanneledmember to hatten same and therebyffl-ecute the rigidity thereof. end support ineens in Figure 51s thecircuit is remotely to support the ends of the channelled member andconstrain same endwise, and center support means to support the centerthereof, the said at` least one of the intermediate portions of the saidchannelled members under said endwise constraint giving a quick-actingmovement with reference to the pair of spaced switch contactsuponattening of an intermediate portion and reducingv its rigidity bythe actuating means.

2. A quick-acting device comprising the combination of a pair of spacedswitch contacts, a relatively thin rigid channelled member for bridgingthe contacts. having two. end portions, a center portion andintermediate portions between the respective end portions and the centerportion, and actuating means disposed to contact at least one of thesaid intermediate portions of the channelled member to iiatten same andthereby reduce the rigidity thereof, end support means to support theends of the channelled member and constrain same endwise, and centersupport means to support the center thereof, the said at least one ofintermediate portions of the said channelled members under said endwiseconstraint giving a quick--acting move ment with respect to itssupported ends upon applying a force thereto by means of the actuatingsupport means to support the center thereof,v

the said at least one of intermediate portions of the said channelledmembers undersaid endwise constraint giving a quick-acting movement withrespect to its supported ends upon applying av force thereto by means ofthev actuating means, and switch meansI actuated by the quick-actingmovement.

4. Apparatus to give a quick-acting movement, comprising in combination,a relatively thin rigid channelled member having two end portions, a

- center portion and intermediate lportions between the respective endportions and the center portion, said channelled member being made of aresilient metallic strip, and actuating means disposed to contact atleast one of the said intermediate portions of the channelled member toHatten same and thereby reduce the rigidity thereof, end support meansto support the ends of the channelled member and constrain same endwise,and center support means to support the center thereof, the said atleast one of the said intermediate portions of the channelled membertening of said intermediate portion and reducing under endwiseconstraint giving a quick-acting movement upon flattening of saidintermediate portion and reducing its rigidity by the actuating means.

5. Apparatus to give a quick-acting switch movement comprising, incombination, a relatively thin rigid channelled member having two endportions, a center portion and intermediate portions between therespective end portions and the center portion, said channelled memberbeing made of a resilient metallic strip, andactuating means disposed tocontact at least one of said intermediate portions of the channelledmember to atten same and thereby reduce the rigidity thereof, endsupport means to support the ends of the channelled member and constrainsame endwise, `and center support means to support the center thereof,the said at least one of the said intermediate portions of thechannelled member under endwise constraint giving a quick-actingswitch'movement upon fiatits rigidity by the'actuating means, and switchmeans actuated by the quick-acting movement. RICHARD H. JORDAN.

